Trojan Gordon | BACP Counsellor • Emancipated Run Crew Cofounder

**UPDATE** Over £10K raised in under 2 weeks - Thank you ERC @emancipatedruncrew for bringing all of our communities together on a Sunday morning in aid of fundraising for those affected by the very recent Hurricane Melissa 🫶🏽 We pray, support and wish the people of Jamaica to rise up as fast as their happy spirit and good vibes through these hard times - #ONELOVE 🙏🏽 🇯🇲 📷 @juskhanom @nazrin.khanom @roxyaslam . . . . #Jamaica #hurricanemelissa #bobmarley #runningcommunity #community

I’ve been watching a growing trend: brands co-opting running communities by signing up community leaders as ambassadors. It raises a question I can’t ignore — who’s really benefiting here? Is it the brand, gaining street cred and access to a ready-made audience? Is it the ambassador, whose profile (and perks) grow through the partnership? Or is it the community, the very people these relationships claim to serve? Too often, it feels like the community is being used as leverage — their energy, loyalty, culture and presence creating value they rarely see returned. When brand deals are built on the community, but not for the community, what are we really celebrating? And if you’re a community leader turned brand ambassador, how are you using that platform? How do you ensure your community benefits from the opportunities now available to you? Let’s talk about it in the comments. Visibility doesn’t equal equity. #VisibilityIsNotEquity #CommunityOverClout #LeverageOrLiberation #BrandDealsWithIntegrity #AmbassadorshipWithAccountability #PowerNotPerks #NotJustStreetCred #CommunityNotCurrency #WhoReallyBenefits #RunningWithPurpose #FromPlatformToPeople #RepresentationWithResponsibility #EthicalInfluence #RootedInCommunity #CultureIsNotACommodity #ImpactOverImpressions #LeadWithThePeople #NoCommunityWithoutCommunity #RunningCommunityVoices #EquityInEndorsements

#MedalMonday and we’re still buzzing! Last weekend, members of @emancipatedruncrew showed up big at the London Marathon — running with heart, joy, and purpose. This community of ordinary people doing extraordinary things made every mile count. Together, we’ve already raised over £9,200 for @sicklecellsociety and ERC’s own community programmes — and we’re so close to our £10,000 goal! If you’re able to support, please hit the link in our bio and help us cross that fundraising finish line. Every donation makes a difference. Massive love to everyone who’s run, donated, supported, or cheered — we did this together. #LondonMarathon #TeamERC #SickleCellAwareness #MedalMonday #BlackRunners #RunForACause

Medal Monday belonging to the Bijlmer Run. When running events talk about community, inclusion and diversity, this event has it all, and then some. The very first Bijlmer Run took place in July 2022. It was created as a collaborative cultural experience focused on breaking down preconceived ideas about Amsterdam’s southeast neighbourhoods and celebrating the communities that make the area so vibrant. This year’s event marked its 5th anniversary edition. After falling in love with this event last year, I returned with the @emancipatedruncrew squad. What I love most is being able to run through an immigrant and racially diverse neighbourhood that is not only embraced, but proudly celebrated through this event. The Bijlmer Run medals are always special. Each year, the finisher medal is designed by local artist @tjinhedy and honours a prominent figure who has made a meaningful impact on the Bijlmer community. This year’s medal was inspired by Jerry Afriyie poet, activist and human rights advocate whose work continues to challenge injustice and amplify community voices. A massive congratulations to @parkrunneruk for completing the 5K, 10K and 21.1K distances across the weekend, plus a parkrun as well. I’m calling it the “D’Souza Challenge”. Regardless, what an incredible achievement. Truly inspiring. Much love and respect to @delono_zand and his team of organisers for creating and protecting this space. A running event rooted in culture, representation, community and joy. Same place next year? It’s a yes from me. 👊🏾 #bijlmerrun #medal #medalmonday #community

South Norwood Parkrun is special because its ever-changing scenery, which tells the story of the four seasons, makes every run here an unexpected joy. Today, @snorwoodparkrun celebrated its 400th event. I’ve now run here 141 times, so it was wonderful to celebrate this incredible milestone alongside my local community and @emancipatedruncrew . The sun was shining, the park looked beautiful, and I felt comfortable out on the course today. Lastly, a huge thank you to @lauraafoster , @mickey_a_s and the rest of the South Norwood team for the volunteering, care and hard work that make this event happen every single week. You truly are a local treasure 🖤 #SouthNorwoodParkrun #Parkrun #EmancipatedRunCrew #RunningCommunity #LocalCommunity SaturdayMorning LondonRunning

A week ago I ran the London Marathon something I hadn’t planned to do this year. On 5th March, NHS Blood and Transplant offered me a place. Eight weeks to prepare. 26.2 miles to cover. All while managing plantar fasciitis. But this is why your why matters. I ran to raise awareness for blood donation, especially within Black and Brown communities, where the need is critical. Every mile was powered by purpose. Every step was bigger than me. The love from @emancipatedruncrew and our wider community carried me through. Slowest time, but the most enjoyable by far. Here’s the ask: 👉🏾 Register today to become a blood donor 👉🏾 Commit to giving regularly 👉🏾 Share this with someone who needs to see it Real impact comes from action, not intention. If you’ve already signed up, drop a 🩸 in the comments. If not, take 2 minutes today and do it. Thank you to @givebloodnhs , @wmmajors , @londonmarathon and @abbottglobal for the opportunity. Running a marathon is really hard and yet magical, especially when you are doing it to benefit others. This year’s medal will always hold a special place in my heart. #GiveBlood #BloodDonation #RunForPurpose #CommunityImpact #londonmarathon2026

First 5K since completing the London Marathon last Sunday. I wanted to check in with my body and see how it felt to run again and it felt good. Today also marked my 99th Parkrun location at Uckfield Parkrun where it celebrated its 300th event. A beautiful (but definitely lumpy) out-and-back trail with stunning views across the Kent countryside. Great being joined by @parkrunneruk , @brendasmith916 and Aisha as we continue our Parkrun tourism. Being mindful to continue prioritising rest and recovery as I quietly set my sights on the next challenge. Powered by: @protein_rebel Shades: @kyloeinthewild #Parkrun #RecoveryMiles #LondonMarathon #uckfield

Join the 𝗘𝗥𝗖 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿 this month when we continue with the LonDone+ challenge ticking off another 2 locations also we travel to 𝗨𝗰𝗸𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 & 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 for the 300 & 400 Century Challenge and not forgetting travelling to the Netherlands 🇳🇱 to 𝗭𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 parkrun. 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘄 @emancipatedruncrew are taking on the 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲+ 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 to visit all the parkrun’s within the M25. Part of doing the ERC tour is having conversations about the importance of working towards increasing the participation of people of black and brown heritage. We are using this opportunity to see how diverse and inclusive for everyone. 🎽 𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 🌳 𝗨𝗰𝗸𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 - 300 Century Challenge ✅ 🎽 𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘆 🌳 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 @snorwoodparkrun - 400 Century Challenge ✅ 🎽 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘆 🌳 𝗭𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 @zuiderparkparkrun - Time 2 get a Z 🎽 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘆 🌳 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘀 @burgessparkrun - 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲’𝘀 @josephine.ocaka 500th parkrun milestone 🎽 𝟮𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 🌳 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 - 🎽 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘆 🌳 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗩 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀 @holywellkinggeorgev_parkrun - 🌳 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘄 | 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗿𝘂𝗻 Love 🧡 to parkrun then log your parkrun’s with ERC so we can celebrate our parkrun’s together whether you are a runner or a walker taking part in parkrun’s around the world and celebrate everyones milestones together. 🫶🏾 🔗 Link in Bio .uk/groups/47625/ Current ERC Parkrun Challenges Alphabet Challenge Y Cowell Club 96/100 LonDone 65/65 - Completed ✅ LonDone+ 12/16 LonDone++ 02/09 ↘️ 🌳 Parkrun Partners ↙️ 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 @vitality_uk 𝗖𝗼 𝗢𝗽 @coopuk 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 @brooksrunninguk 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗮 @runna - Use ✨𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗦𝗗✨ get 1 month free 𝗶𝗣𝗥𝗢 @iprohydrate 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗸𝘇 @shokzuk - ✨DM me 15% off✨ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 @compeeduk 𝗜𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲 @ibuleve_gotofeelgood 🄿🄰🅁🄺🅁🅄🄽🄽🄴🅁🅄🄺 | #parkrunneruk Drop your local 🌳 parkrun @parkrunuk in the comments and we will come and visit. ↙️ 🧡 #parkrun 🧡 #loveparkrun 🧡 #parkrunchallenge 🧡 #londonechallenge

Congratulations to the ERC Class of 2026 Marathon Runners You ran the streets and earned that shiny medal. Brenda Smith Morline Thompson Denise Stephenson Destani Cleveland Imani Graham Bernie Siu James Mensah Chris Okeke Daw’ud Lee Joshua Leslie Naomi Rumble Fumi Ndlovu Sheryne Shillingford-Reed Yvette Taylor John Collins Alireza Datoo Headley Duncan Victoria McLeod-Gayle Rochelle McFarlane Omar Gayle Jason Thompson Nikki Bell Louis Verna Erin Clarke Billie Grace Depra-Gaddy Micheal Martinez Trojan Gordon Lionel Mullin Mustafa Bojang Curtis Alleyne To our pacers who led the way and ensured that individuals were able to meet their targets: Nina Ashton James Benjamin Hasan Hassan Vinod Verma To our volunteers, the backbone of every major event: Claire Reid Marsha Jackson Donna Prendergast Lastly, thank you to the ERC 7UP Massive at Mile 7 and across the course. You were the fire that kept us moving in celebration and joy. ⸻ ERC — Built by Community. Powered by Movement.

London Marathon 2026 - I really don’t know how i did that. To everyone who helped get to the start line - thank you. To everyone who donated towards my fundraiser for @givebloodnhs - thank you (link in the bio). To every cheer, hug and joyous interaction along the route, thank you! To my running family @emancipatedruncrew who remind me why we are important in this space. Thank you. Lastly thanks @gmfarmer for helping me reconnect with my ancestors and getting my body able to run a marathon. Thankful for @wmmajors and @abbottglobal for the space. More on my marathon experience in a couple of days. #londonmarathon #weareerc #erc

Today was a day i didn’t think would happen. Five weeks ago i gonna be a cheerleading for my @emancipatedruncrew family, instead @givebloodnhs has given me the opportunity to run ago for an important charity. Every year 300 babies are born with the blood disorder sickle cell. Sickle cell is a chronic, lifelong genetic blood disorder, which causes chronic anaemia, severe pain episodes, and long-term organ damage. People with sickle cell rely on blood donation; a single patient can require up to 100 units of blood every year. Currently, the NHSBT Charity is seeking funding for sickle cell education programmes and research into sickle cell. The Charity is helping fund additional copies of a children’s book, ‘My Blood, Your Blood’ written by Laura Henry-Allain MBE, to be shared in schools to help demystify sickle cell and encourage more people to donate blood. There’s an urgent need for more people of Black heritage to become blood donors. Nearly half of donors with Black heritage have the vital Ro blood subtype – far more than any other group. I am running to fundraise for this important cause. If you can donate please click on the link in my bio. Thanks to @abbottglobal and @wmmajors for the support.

Good luck to the ERC Class of 2026 taking on the London Marathon 🏁 You’ve put in the miles, shown up through every high and low, and done the work. Now it’s time to trust it all and enjoy your victory lap. Brenda Smith Morline Thompson Denise Stephenson Destani Cleveland Imani Graham Bernie Siu Joshua Leslie Naomi Rumble Fumi Ndlovu Sheryne Shillingford-Reed Yvette Taylor John Collins Alireza Datoo Headley Duncan Victoria McLeod-Gayle Rochelle McFarlane Omar Gayle Jason Thompson Nikki Bell Louis Cerna Erin Clarke Billie Grace Depra Gaddy Micheal Martinez Wendy Mwandia Lionel Mullin Trojan Gordon And a big shout to our London Marathon pacers, guiding the way every step of the journey: Nina Ashton James Benjamin Hasan Hassan Vinod Verma Run strong. Run proud. Run free. 🖤❤️💚 #londonmarathon2026 #erc #runfree